I would be remiss if I didn’t start this journalistic effort without a story of travel adventures (if you knew me, you would understand). I met the group from Riverside at the Long Beach Airport, and promptly lost my iPhone. I realized it after about 5 minutes, and knew that it had to be at the ticket counter for Jet Blue. Unfortunately when I went back there, the gentleman that took my bags was gone. Happily another guy remembered a lost phone, and told me they had taken it to the departure gate for the plane. When I confidently sauntered up to the lady at the gate desk, she had a blank look in her eyes. I said no problem, I could wait, firmly believing that it would magically appear. The minutes ticked by, and I got a little concerned. I was trying to steel myself to the fact that my phone could be gone. I told myself that the purpose of this trip didn’t revolve around my phone. We were on the trip to minister to needy people on the border, sharing our blessings with others, and renewing Christian fellowship with other men. Finally, another lady showed up, who seemed more organized. I decided to just butt in and ask her about my phone. She was very gracious, opened a drawer, and voila, there was my phone.
OK, enough about me. This is an exciting year, the first one with 3 weeks of POWER ministry. Previously there have only been two weeks. We all gathered together at a motel in San Antonio (except for 4 from Idaho whose plane was delayed), jumped into our vans, and regrouped at Chop Sticks, a great buffet place, where we took over a room in the back to enjoy a great dinner together. A couple of vans went on a little tour of the freeways of San Antonio before arriving at the restaurant, but regrouped, with the help of our own IT expert (Daniel) and Marty on the walkie talkie. The 3 hour drive to Faith Missions in Del Rio seemed to go by quickly, as we shared a little about ourselves. Our van had men from Idaho, South Dakota, Iowa, South Carolina and California. The unique thing about this ministry is that men keep coming back, year after year (some more than 15 years). But we also have a good mix of first timers.
We arrived at Faith Missions dormitory at 10:30 pm, found our bunks, and had a brief orientation from Doug, and review of ‘areas of responsibility’ from Marty.
Our itinerary this week is:
Thursday & Friday- Worship & Devotions at Faith Missions, projects at the school conference center, house construction, church & house painting, work at Faith Missions and a Joy tour. At 3:30 pm, we leave for Laredo, arriving there around 11:30 pm.
Saturday- Worship & Devotions at ‘Laredo Stepping Stones’, cross the border to Nuevo Laredo to build 3 houses and take children to the zoo. At 6 pm, we leave for McAllen, arriving there at around 11 pm.
Sunday- cross the border to Reynosa, worship & devotion at Alianza Cristiana, do a festival at Refugio Orphanage.
Monday- after breakfast at hotel in McAllen, travel back across the border for building projects in Reynosa & Hildago (Loreno Vicario School, Refugio Shade Center, El Shadai Orphanage, prison visits and bowling with Big Heart Orphanage. We leave for McAllen at 6 pm, have dinner, then head back to San Antonio(arriving at around 11:30 pm).
Tuesday- After breakfast and debriefing at hotel, then lunch, we take our separate paths back home.